President's Beat

November 8, 2006

Greg Evans

Thanks to all to attended the General Meeting tonight, November 8th. The meeting had a different flavor with a presentation by member John Fraser on Didymosphenia Geminata aka Rock Snot; see our web links for more info and how to keep your gear clean. John was followed by Ken Eis who spoke on air quality in Rocky Mountain National Park. Scary but insightful! We did get a few naked fish pictures thrown in at the end for good measure.

We have a federal bill alert on right now. Please see the News Flashes for information and Congress members to contact in regards to Rocky Mountain National Park wilderness status. Senators Salazar and Allard have proposed competing bills in the Senate and Representatives Udall and Musgrave have competing bills in the House that need our input. Dave Piske is your expert member contact for that issue, and thanks for Dave for his research.

Elections for chapter officers were also conducted this evening to the entertainment of the 50+ members we had present. To my utter amazement but no surprise, I was reelected as president even though I confessed enthusiastically to lack of character, scandal and immoral acts including a fish fry just prior to the vote. Luckily, Ken Eis was reelected VP, Ron Sheets handily won Treasurer, and in a surprise move Paul Fromme agreed to his unanimous selection as Secretary. Surrounded by such good officers and excellent Board members, I don't have to sweat much.

In fact, we arguably had one of the best years in the history of our chapter with all the various activities we have had a play in. Here are some highlights in no particular order:

We began negotiations with the USFS after our successful suit charging them with improper permitting of Long Draw Dam. This looks to be a long road, but mitigation may involve a huge Greenback Cutthroat restoration project in that same watershed.

We received a Larimer County Open Lands Grant for $1700 to plant trees and restore the Eagle’s Nest North Fork of the Poudre. Bob Streeter deserves the accolades here in what will be another long-term project with the potential for bringing a fishery back, recruiting new members, and gaining some national notoriety (hey, we gotta market ourselves).

We held the first Summer Board retreat in some time and reconnected with CTU and NTU with representatives to the Spring Rendezvous. This gives our chapter a chance at doing some long term planning. One highlight of this meeting was to decide to put our educational efforts ahead of CYO. Look for member driven youth activities and adult classes in the future.

Our sales of Poudre River Maps and good attendance at General meetings has put our chapter well into the black in accounting. For that reason, we have been able to sponsor scholarships, pay for new equipment, honorariums for speakers and sponsor great social activities for our members and their families. Paul Fromme deserves special recognition for jump starting our maps sales; they have already paid for themselves so pure profit keeps rolling in monthly!

Our River clean up this year was well attended. We decided to switch to the Poudre after noting the Narrows Park on the Big T has stayed clean after we initially cleaned it up. I guess neighbors were so impressed with our efforts they were inspired to help out! We also got to install another riverside bench at CTU’s bequest and got paid for it! Chris and Andy Sheafor dug holes and poured concrete in the snow, thanks!

Next month will be our annual Christmas party at Sports Center in Loveland, formerly the Depot on 4th street. Hard to believe its been a year already, but time flies. Funny thing I never mentioned fishing; don’t forget our TU to the Green trip last February. Any takers for this year? Tight lines and hope for another election year at RMFC!